Nellore: Batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar was was accorded a warm welcome on Sunday as he visited the tiny village of Puttamrajuvari Kandrika which he had adopted under the Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana.
For the villagers of Puttamrajuvari Kandrika located in Gudur mandal, it was a morning with a difference, when the cricket icon and Rajya Sabha member arrived around 9 a.m.
Tendulkar was given a warm welcome by the residents of the village that was colourfully decked up. Banners and hoardings welcoming the legendary player dotted the roads leading to the village right from Gudur.
A large number of people, including women and children from the neighbouring villages and the district thronged Puttamrajuvari Kandrika to catch a glimpse of the star batsman.
Venkateshwarlu, a fan of Tendulkar who came from the neighbouring Chennur village, said he had distributed over 1,000 paper masks of the master blaster ahead of his visit.
“Puttamrajuvari Kandrika has now become popular after Tendulkar adopted the village. Earlier, even people living in the neighbouring villages or in the district had not heard about the village. I have never seen Tendulkar earlier, but now I have got an opportunity to see him personally. I am happy about that,†an elated Venkateshwarulu said.
Tendulkar interacted with the villagers, who told him about the lack of proper roads, sanitation facilities, and also about the power supply scenario in the village and said they wished to see it turn into a model village after getting the necessary basic amenities.
Tendulkar laid foundation for the construction of Rs. 2.79 crore worth developmental works (in the first phase), including a community centre, Anganwadi school with kitchen, a play ground, waiting halls and toilets, among other things.
The retired cricketer is also scheduled to administer oath to the villagers asking them to shun tobacco and alcohol.
He is also scheduled to play a friendly cricket match with the village children.